The effect of quince seed mucilage on perineal pain and healing following episiotomy: A randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

The incidence of episiotomy in Iran has been reported to be high, resulting in complications such as perineal infection and pain. This study investigates the effects of quince seed mucilage on the healing process and perineal pain. A triple-blinded clinical trial was conducted from October 2023 to August 2024 in Iran, involving 90 primiparous women who were randomly assigned to either the quince gel group or the placebo group for a duration of 14 days, with administration three times daily. The primary outcomes included wound healing and pain, which were evaluated using the REEDA questionnaire and the visual analogue scale. Data analysis was performed utilising SPSS version 25. There were no statistically significant differences found between the groups regarding the REEDA and VAS scores immediately following repair (p > 0.05). However, on day 14, the overall REEDA and VAS scores indicated that wound healing and pain levels in the intervention group were significantly more favourable than those in the control group (p = 0.001 vs. p = 0.002, respectively). This study demonstrates the beneficial impact of quince mucilage on improving wound healing and alleviating pain. The application of this mucilage may facilitate a quicker return to normalcy for mothers.